DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention II in the reply filed on March 4, 2026 is acknowledged.
Applicant's election with traverse of Species G in the reply filed on 3/4/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that Species G, H, I and J are not independent or distinct form one another. Applicant’s admission that these species are not distinct is sufficient to withdraw the election for these Species. The admission however, indicates that these species are obvious variants and if one species is found unpatentable over prior art, the evidence or admission may be used in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103 of the other species.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 8-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Amherd (6,434,998) in view of Kruse et al. (7,997,167 “Kruse”), Weson et al. (10,899,027) and Skrobot (2020/0198116).
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Amherd meets all of the limitations of claim 8, i.e., a head tool for a hydraulic tool, e.g., Fig. 1, the hydraulic tool including a hydraulic ram, the tool head comprising:
a first jaw 14 [[having a first jaw insert and a first wear insert, the first jaw insert arranged to engage a work piece and the first wear insert arranged to engage the hydraulic ram]];
a first bushing bearing 132, Fig. 3 around which the first jaw is rotatable pivot joint;
a second jaw 14’ [[having a second jaw insert and a second wear insert, the second jaw insert arranged to engage the work piece and the second wear insert arranged to engage the hydraulic ram]]; and
a second bushing 132’ around which the second jaw is rotatable pivot pin;
[[the first jaw and the second jaw comprising one of carbon fiber or a titanium alloy]];
[[the first jaw insert, the second jaw insert, the first wear insert, the second wear insert, and the first bushing comprising steel]], except for a first and a second jaw insert and a first and a second wear insert, the first and a second jaw insert arranged to engage a work piece and the first and a second wear insert arranged to engage the hydraulic ram respectively; and for jaws to comprise one of carbon fiber or a titanium
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alloy and for the inserts and the first bushing to comprise steel.
Kruse teaches a power tool teaching that any types of wear insert can be used for tong dies and gripping pads 10:40. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to modify the invention of Amherd with wear insert as taught by Kruse to minimize wear.
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Weson teaches a hydraulic tool with inserts 134, 136 one for each jaw’s cam surface 122 engaging the ram 09:20-25. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to further modify the modified invention of Amherd and Kruse with the jaw inserts as taught by Wesson to reduce friction wear.
Combination of Amherd, Kruse and Wesson meets the claim, except for the use of specific materials.
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Skrobot teaches a hydraulic tool that may include jaws 1, 2, Fig. 2B made from a material with high specific strength made from metal composite, high performance polymers, carbon fiber composite materials, ceramics, and/or ceramic and metal composites, and/or titanium [0038] and further wherein the collar/insert 488, Fig. 4B may be of a metal such as steel [0041]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective date of the invention, to modify the invention of Amherd with jaws comprising carbon fiber or titanium and to use metallic inserts such as steel as taught by Skrobot for their excellent strength and stiffness properties while being lighter weight.
Regarding claim 9, PA (prior art, Amherd modified by Krause, Wesson and Skrobot) meets the limitations, i.e., the tool head of claim 8, further comprising a jaw plate 11 having a third bushing 184, spring steel, Fig. 3 comprising steel.
Regarding claim 10, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool head of claim 9, wherein the jaw plate 11 comprises carbon fiber or a titanium alloy modified by Skrobot and is secured to the first jaw and the second jaw via the first bushing 13, the second bushing 13’, and the third bushing @112, Amherd Fig. 3.
Regarding claim 11, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool head of claim 10, wherein the jaw plate 11 is a first jaw plate and the tool head further comprises a second jaw plate 11’, Fig. 3.
Regarding claim 12, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool head of claim 11, wherein the first jaw plate 11 is secured to a first side of the first jaw and the second jaw and the second jaw plate 11’ is secured to a second side of the first jaw and the second jaw Fig. 3.
Regarding claim 13, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool head of claim 8, wherein the titanium alloy is Ti-6Al-4V, wherein the carbon fiber jaws meet the alternative language of claims 8 and 13 is met, i.e., ”the first jaw and the second jaw comprising one of carbon fiber or Titanium alloy Ti-6A1-4v.
Regarding claim 14, PA meets the limitations, i.e., the tool head of claim 8, wherein the first wear insert roller 136, modified by Weson extends around a first corner @122 of the first jaw and the second wear insert roller 134 extends around a second corner @88, Fig. 4 Wesson of the second jaw.
Conclusion
Prior art made of record and not relied upon at this time, are considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Pellenc et al. and Hamm et al. are cited to show related inventions wear coating.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HADI SHAKERI whose telephone number is (571)272-4495. The fax phone number for forwarding unofficial documents for discussion purposes only is (571) 273-4495. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Keller can be reached on 571 272 8548. The fax number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Hadi Shakeri/
June 24, 2026 Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3723
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